Underslung potato digger for tractors



Auw. 8, 39.33 E. w. JOHNSQN UNDERSLUNG POTATO DIGGER FOR TRACTORS Filed June l1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l atto/cmq@ ug H933 E. W. JoHNsoN ggmw UNDERSLUNG vPOTATO BIGGER FOR TRACTORS- Filed June 1l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 31a/vento@ E WJo/won AU8 8, 1933- E. w. JOHNSON 1,921,190

UNDERSLUNG. POTATO DIGGER FOR T RCTORS Filed June 11, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 4 11H l @L lIl \Q w kv R cui* R 1, Q f j kb 5 shown in my Patent 1,721,122 are here shown as The digger units 17 are here shown as bein Patented Aug. 8, 1933',

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE UNDERSLUNG PO'TATO DIGGER FOR TRACTORS Elmo W. Johnson, Hicksville, N. Y. Application June 11, 1931. Serial No. 543,681 8 Claims. (Cl. 55-51) This invention relates to potato harvesters may be adjusted for the proper penetration by and, among other objects, aims to provide imswinging them on their axles under the tractor proved digging mechanism suspended from` a axle. The conveyors of both units are adapted frame adapted to be mounted on a farm tracto be driven by a transverse jack-shaft -23 on f tor and having control means arranged Within the superstructure which is connected to a 60 easy reach of the drivers seat. The main idea power take-off shaft 24 extending from the tracis to provide a simple digger attachment. contor dierentia1 (Fig. 2). Power is delivered to sisting of one or more units which can be the conveyor mechanism from the jackfshaft removably secured to and suspended under by sprocket chains 25 and double sprockets 26 the tractor so that the overall length of the at the opposite sides of the units. machine is greatly reduced, `whereby it may be The forward end of each of the units has a turned around on relatively narrow head lands. pair of beams or draft bars y27 rigidly secured Other aims and advantages of the invention to its side plates (Fig. l). A yoke 28, similar will appear in the specification when considered to that shown in my aforesaid patent, is pivotalin connection with the accompanying drawings, lyconnected intermediate its ends to the for- 70 whereimward end of each pair of draft bars (Fig. 2)

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tractor having and, to the rear end of each yoke is pivotally the preferred form of digger attachment apconnected a suspending link 29 adapted to be v plied thereto; f raised and lowered or adjusted by a hand lever 2 Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing two digger 30 having a locking segment 31 on the channel 75 units suspended from the tractor; beam 13 (Fig. 1). The front end of each yoke A Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in outline, has a perforated vertical bracket 32 adapted to of a modied form of digger unit and mounting; be connected by pivoted links 33, 34 and 35 to and y a plurality of draft springs 36 anchored at their Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the machine front ends to the front cross bar or pipe 14. 80 shown in Fig. 3. The springs will yield when the digger units Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the or the plow shares strike obstructions and predigger attachment there shown is mounted on vent them from breaking. a well known type of tractor having traction- I'he links and connections to the front ends of wheels 10 adapted to straddle two rows and a the yokes are such as to hold the units adjusted 85 single, swivelly mounted front Wheel l1. In this t0 the propel height S0 that further adjustments instance, the digger and conveyor mechanisms can be made by the levers while the machine are supported from a removable framework comiS Working. In this exemple, the front ends of prising longitudinal channel beams 13, front the yokes may be raised 0r lowered manually by beams 14, rear cross beams 15 and longi' levers 37 pivoted on arms or brackets 38 carry- 90 tudinal braces 16. The members 14 are shown ine notched 0r locking Segments 39. The Sesas consisting of a pair of pipes projecting' ments are preferably secured to the opposite through the front part of the tractor chassis ends of the rear cross bar or pipe 14 (Fig. l) to which the ends of the beams 13 areremovand the levers are adjustably connected by arms 95 ably secured. At an intermediate point the 40 to the links 34. Thus, the levers 37 may be inner channel beams 13 are shown as shackled used for making initial adjustments. to the rear axle housing of the tractor. The In Figs.I 3 and 4 there is shown a modified derear ends of the `beams 13 are bent upwardly Sign wherein a peil' 0f digger units 17 are reand project behind the tractor, forming with the movably mounted on a different style of tractor. members 15 and 16 a superstructure permitting In this instance, the rear axle of the tractor is the conveyor mechanism to be suspended below above the axes of the wheels 10 which `are it at a suitable distance above the ground. mounted on stub shafts driven by gearing in A pair of digger units 17 of the general type lgear cases 50.

g being pivotally mounted on transverse axles or mounted on a drawbar plate or shelf 51 sup- 105 shafts 18 journalled in suspending brackets 19 ported by ordinary bars or brackets at the rear connected to the superstructure and having angle end of the tractor. Each unit pivotally and braces 20,' Fig. 1. The units have plow shares adjustably supported on a shaft 52 journalled in. 22 which project forwardly under the tractor bearings 53 on the drawbar plate. Power is de- :5 'and the arrangement is such that both units livered by a power take-oli shaft 54 to shaft 52 which is connected by sprockets andchains to drive the conveyor mechanism of both units (Fig. 4). However, the particular driving connections are relatively unimportant.

The digger units project forwardly under the have ordinary locking segments 58 on the beams,

the arrangement being such that the beams 27' may be raised or lowered by shifting the levers (Fig. 3).

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved underslung diggers may be quickly mounted on and removed from ordinary tractors. By suspending the units below the tractor, in the manner shown, no separate supporting wheels for the units are required, thereby eliminating expense. Further, the adjusting mechanism and driving connections for the units are greatly simplified. Moreover, such units can be made at a much lower cost than the usual trailing units. Also, they donot require wide head lands on which to turn around at the ends of rows.

Obviously, the' present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensablethat all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be ernployed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations,l

What Ivclaim is:-

l. In combination with a tractor, an underslung potato harvester unit comprising a conveying mechanism and digging means pivotally sus-` pended at the rear end of the tractor; power take-off connections for driving the conveying mechanism of the unit; means resiliently connecting the unit to the forward end of the tractor; and a manually operable lever connected to vary the depth of penetration of the unit.

2. In combination with a tractor adapted to straddle two rows of potatoes, a pair of underslung digger units suspended from the tractor; each unit comprising digging means and conveying mechanism and extending beneath the tractor between the rear wheels with the digging means forward of said wheels; and draft 'beams on the units adjustably and yieldably connected with respect to the forward end of the tractor.

3. In combination with a tractor, a removable frame mounted on the tractor and projecting beyond the rear end thereof, a superstructure on the frame; a potato digging unit comprising digging means and conveying mechanism suspended from the superstructure and projecting forwardly under the tractor frame below the rear axle, with the digging means forward of the rear wheels; and a draft beam on the digging unit resiliently connected to the forward end of the tractor.

4. In combination with a tractor, a removable frame mounted on the tractor and projecting' beyond the rear end thereof; a superstructure on the frame; a potato digging unit comprising digging means and conveying mechanism suspended from the superstructure and projecting forwardly under the tractor frame below the rear axle, with the forward end of the digging means well forward of the rear wheels; power delivering means on the superstructure connected to drive the conveying mechanism of the digging unit from the power unit of the tractor; and a draft beam adjustably and yieldably connected to the forward end of the tractor. V

5. In combination with a tractor, a removable frame mounted on the tractor and projecting beyond the rear end thereof; a superstructure on the frame; a potato digging unit with conveyor mechanism suspended from the superstructure and projecting forwardly under the tractor frame below the rear axle; power delivering means on the superstructure connected to drive the conveyor mechanism of lthe digging unit; a draft beam adjustably and yieldably connected to the forward end of the tractor; and hand levers connected to said unit to control the depth of penetration.

6. In combination with a tractor adapted to 1 straddle two rows of potatoes, a pair of channel beams removably secured to the tractor and projecting beyond the rear end thereof; a superstructure on the projecting ends of said beams; depending brackets secured to the superstruc- 1 ture; a pair of underslung digger units pivotally mounted on said depending brackets and extending forwardly beneath the rear axle of the tractor; adjustable draft devices at the forward ends of the units; draft springs connecting the 1 draft devices to the forward portion of the tractor; and manual means connected to said draft devices to control the respective units.

7. In combination with a tractor adapted to straddle two rows of potatoes, a pair of chan-v1 nel beams removably secured to the tractor and projecting beyond the rear end thereof; a superstructure on the projecting ends of said beams; depending brackets secured to the superstructure; a pair of underslung digger units with 1 conveyor mechanism pivotally mounted on said depending brackets and extending forwardly beneath the rear axle of the tractor; a jack-shaftl on the superstructure connected to drive the conveyor mechanism of the diggers; and yield- 1 able draft connections between said units and the forward portion of the tractor.

8. In combination with a tractor adapted to straddle two rows of potatoes, a -pair of channel beams removably secured to the tractor. and 1 projecting beyond the rear end thereof; a superstructure on the projecting ends of said beams; depending brackets secured to the superstructure; a pair of underslung digger units with conveyor mechanism pivotally mounted on said depending brackets and extending forwardly beneath the rear axle of the tractor; a jack-shaft on the superstructure connected to drive the conveyor mechanism of the diggers; draft bars on the forward ends of the units; draft yokes pivotally connected to the draft bars; links adjustably4 connected to the forward ends of the draft yokes; draft springs between the links and the forward portion of the tractor; and a pair of hand levers connected to each draft yoke to 1 control the depth of penetration of the units.

ELMO W. JOHNSON. 

